New Teacher Talk

Elizabeth Wilkins and Anna Quinzio-Zafran

Are you a new teacher in an urban, suburban, or rural school? Or, are you an aspiring new teacher? We’re here to support YOU! This podcast channel is designed to help those new to teaching. We talk about the most common challenges educators face and how to find answers. On this channel, you will find a community of support as well as on our associated social media platforms: Instagram and BlueSky - @NewTeacherTalk.

  1. HACE 3 DÍAS

    Ep 165: Ask for Help: A First-Year Teacher's Guide to Finding Support and Building Community

    Feeling overwhelmed in your first year of teaching? You're not alone. In this essential episode of New Teacher Talk, fifth-grade teacher Samar Abousalem shares honest insights from her own challenging first year and reveals the game-changing strategy that transformed her second year: asking for help. Samar gets real about the exhaustion, self-doubt, and impossible expectations that nearly broke her during year one—staying late at school, working through evenings at home, and struggling to balance lesson planning, meetings, parent emails, and district initiatives. But she discovered that teaching thrives on community, not isolation. In this episode, you'll discover: Why asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness How to approach experienced colleagues with intentional, specific questions Five critical areas where mentorship makes the biggest difference: curriculum planning, time management, classroom management, instructional strategies, and assessment Targeted questions you can ask right away to save time and reduce frustration Why observing experienced teachers in action accelerates your growth Whether you're in your first year or supporting new teachers, this episode provides a practical roadmap for building the collaborative relationships that make teaching sustainable and rewarding. Remember: the experienced teachers around you have been where you are, and they want to help. Perfect for: First-year teachers, student teachers, mentors, instructional coaches, and education leaders #FirstYearTeaching #ClassroomConfidence #MentorMoments #TeachingWithCommunity #EducatorGrowthJourney #NewTeacherTips #NewTeachers #NewTeacherTalk #TeacherPodcast

    8 min
  2. HACE 5 DÍAS

    Ep 164: Unlocking Student Potential: Dr. Vicki Phelps on Talent Development in Education

    Join us for an illuminating conversation with Dr. Vicki Phelps, Executive Director and Head of School at Quest Academy in Palatine, Illinois, as she explores the multifaceted approach to talent development in educational settings. Drawing on Gagné's Differentiating Model of Giftedness and Talent, Dr. Phelps takes educators beyond traditional classroom strategies to examine the powerful catalysts that transform student potential into demonstrated talent. Whether your students show promise in intellectual pursuits, creative endeavors, social domains, or athletics, this episode provides a comprehensive framework for nurturing their gifts. Dr. Phelps breaks down three essential components of talent development: environmental factors (from school facilities to family partnerships), intra-personal dynamics (including motivation, interests, and neurodivergent learning styles), and the critical developmental process that provides access to meaningful learning opportunities. You'll discover practical strategies including how to effectively use interest inventories, connect curriculum to student aspirations, embrace productive struggle, and diversify instructional methods beyond traditional approaches. Learn why lesson design directly impacts how students demonstrate understanding and develop essential skills like perseverance and problem-solving. Perfect for teachers, administrators, gifted education specialists, and anyone passionate about helping students reach their full potential. Dr. Phelps reminds us that educators are key catalysts with the power to ignite and nurture the talents waiting to emerge in every classroom. #TalentDevelopment #StudentPotential #TeachingGiftedTalented #NewTeacheTtips #NewTeachers #NewTeacherTalk #TeacherPodcast #VickiPhelps

    8 min
  3. 20 OCT

    Ep 162: What the University Didn’t Teach You: Let’s Get R.E.A.L.

    Join us for an eye-opening conversation with Benita Gordon, founder of Global Education Concierge and veteran educator with over 26 years of classroom experience. In this episode, Benita reveals what university programs often miss and introduces her transformative R-E-A-L framework for new teacher success. Discover how to build meaningful Relationships that go beyond surface-level interactions using creative tools like Canva "About Me" profiles. Learn practical strategies for Energy management that prevent burnout, including boundary-setting techniques and mindful body check-ins throughout your school day. Explore how to create Authentic classroom culture through daily rituals, co-created norms, and intentional structure that replaces traditional "classroom management" thinking. Finally, embrace Lifelong learning with monthly professional development challenges and reflective practices that help you continuously grow and adapt. Whether you're in your first year or supporting new teachers, this episode offers actionable insights to help educators not just survive, but truly thrive in their profession. Benita's wealth of experience as a teacher, dean, parent-engagement coach, and department chair shines through as she shares practical tools and mindset shifts that make all the difference in educational success. #REALTeachingFramework #TeacherTruths #RelationshipsBeforeContent #EnergyNotBurnout #EducationConcierge #Newteachertips #newteachers #newteachertalk #TeacherPodcast

    10 min
  4. 20 OCT

    Ep 159: Using AI to Turn Professional Development into Classroom Gold

    Join us for an inspiring conversation with Josh Amstutz, a high school math teacher from Cincinnati, Ohio, who discovered how to break out of survival mode and maximize professional growth opportunities. After participating in the transformative Transatlantic Outreach Program in Germany, Josh faced a common challenge: how to organize and actually use all the valuable information he'd collected. His solution? Creating a personalized AI chatbot using Gemini to store, process, and generate classroom materials from his fellowship experiences. Josh shares his four-step approach to effective AI prompting and demonstrates how this technology has saved him hours weekly while helping him implement innovative energy education concepts and wind turbine statistics in his math classes. Beyond his German fellowship, Josh reveals how he's expanded this approach to create multiple specialized chatbots for mindfulness activities, conference presentations, and more. He'll share a treasure trove of 40-50 fellowship opportunities for teachers and provide practical resources on AI prompting and chatbot creation. Whether you're struggling to move beyond day-to-day survival or looking to become an innovative leader in your district, this episode offers concrete strategies for organizing your professional growth and maximizing learning opportunities through smart technology. Link to Josh Amstuz’s Padlet Hashtags: #NewTeacherTalk #TeacherLeadership #AIinEducation #ProfessionalDevelopment #TeacherGrowth #EdTech #MathEducation #TeacherFellowships #EducationInnovation #TeacherResources #ClassroomTechnology #TeacherPodcast #EducationPodcast

    14 min

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Are you a new teacher in an urban, suburban, or rural school? Or, are you an aspiring new teacher? We’re here to support YOU! This podcast channel is designed to help those new to teaching. We talk about the most common challenges educators face and how to find answers. On this channel, you will find a community of support as well as on our associated social media platforms: Instagram and BlueSky - @NewTeacherTalk.